18 September 2015 –
I urge locals to have their say on the Not Now, Not Ever Report into domestic and family violence.
Today I hosted a domestic and family violence roundtable bringing together a range of community leaders and groups as diverse as local police, the Salvation Army, White Ribbon, Brisbane Domestic Violence Service, local schools, sporting clubs, church groups, and GPs.
The Not Now, Not Ever Report paints a confronting picture of the extent of domestic and family violence and contains 140 recommendations to help create a Queensland free of domestic and family violence.
This is an issue I feel incredibly passionate about – as a surgeon I spent so much time trying to put people back together after violent incidents. As a politician I hope to help stop them winding up in hospital in the first place.
You can access a copy of the report online www.qld.gov.au/community/documents/getting-support-health-social-issue/dfv-report-vol-one.pdf
The Queensland Government is investing over $30 million to help stop domestic and family violence. The measures include; trialling specialist domestic and family violence courts, setting up a domestic and family violence death review board, expanding legal services, establishing two new crisis shelters, and helping fund a national campaign to reduce violence against women and children.
I spoke on this issue in State Parliament this week; if you’re interested you can read a transcript of the speech here http://www.dranthonylynham.com.au/not-now-not-ever-report-speech-to-parliament/